Hints earlier this week regarding the release of an official beta version of Google’s Chrome browser for Mac have been confirmed. TechCrunch contacted received the news yesterday from a Google spokesperson, who stood by earlier reports that the Mac beta of Chrome will be available by the end of the year.

We asked Google about it and here’s what they had to say, “As I’m sure you know, we generally don’t comment about timelines for releasing specific features or products. But we’ve been quoted a few times saying Chrome for mac should be out by the end of the year.” I was then pointed to an Reuters article from September that quoted Google’s Product Management Vice President, Sundar Pichai, as saying that Chrome for Mac would be released by year’s end.

Google’s spokesperson also confirmed that the Mac version will follow a similar model as the Windows version, launching initially as part of a Beta channel for active development, with refined versions periodically promoted to a Stable channel for users looking for “rock solid” performance without the need for the latest features still undergoing development.

In other Google news, TechCrunch also reports that the company’s Chrome OS, a browser-based operating system built on Linux, is expected to be launched as an early beta or development version for download within the next week.

We expect Google will be careful with messaging around the launch, and endorse a small set of devices for installation. EEE PC netbooks, for example, may be one set of devices that Google will say are ready to use Chrome OS. There will likely be others as well, but don’t expect to be able to install it on whatever laptop or desktop machine you have from day one. Google has previously said they are working with Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba on the project.